Man escapes jail over death of Eastbourne mother in Tesco tragedy

Clair Coope died three weeks after the accident

Sixty-year-old Neil Manser, of Roseveare Road, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 45-year-old Clair Coope by careless driving at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 17.

He appeared in court again on Thursday (February 11) and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 300 hours’ unpaid community work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and will be required to take an extended driving test. He was also ordered to pay costs of £425, said police.

Mrs Coope was rushed to hospital following the accident involving a VW campervan in the Lottbridge Drove store car park on Thursday November 23.

She remained in intensive care in Brighton before being transferred to St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne where she died.

Mrs Coope was the operations manager for the Bluebell group of nurseries and her family described her as a friend to many who was always doing things for other people.

She had attended Bishop Bell School in Eastbourne and studied childcare. She met her husband Joe and the couple married in 2002. They lived in St Anthony’s and latterly in Framfield Way with their two children Eddie and Lois.

At the time of her death, Mr Coope thanked members of the public who tried to help his wife, who was a pedestrian in the car park, and lift the campervan away from her while emergency services rushed to the scene. An off-duty doctor and firefighter were first at the scene along with Tesco staff and store customers.

PC Kelly Newton, from the Sussex Police serious collision investigation unit, said, “Sadly, Clair Coope died in hospital nearly three weeks after being involved in the collision in the Tesco’s car park in Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, in November 2019.

“This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with her husband, children and her wider family and friends at the time.

““Neil Manser has admitted his guilt, but this was an incident that could so easily been avoided.

“The court heard that he was concentrating so much on finding a parking space that he failed to see Clair crossing in front of him.

“Unfortunately, it demonstrates that the utmost care must be taken when driving, not only on the roads, but also in places such as car parks where potentially, the risks posed to vulnerable users such as pedestrians are even greater.”